NameCensus.

UK surname

Perriman

A locative surname derived from a place name, possibly from a location in England.

In the 1881 census there were 212 people recorded with the Perriman surname, ranking it #12,373 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 186, ranked #20,575, down from #12,373 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Loose, East Farleigh and Branscombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil, Maidstone and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perriman is 281 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.3%.

1881 census count

212

Ranked #12,373

Modern count

186

2016, ranked #20,575

Peak year

1911

281 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Perriman had 212 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,373 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016, ranked #20,575.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 281 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Perriman surname distribution map

The map shows where the Perriman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Perriman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Perriman over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 236 #9,174
1861 historical 185 #12,799
1881 historical 212 #12,373
1891 historical 224 #13,760
1901 historical 226 #14,006
1911 historical 281 #11,953
1997 modern 203 #17,457
1998 modern 216 #17,257
1999 modern 210 #17,712
2000 modern 206 #17,880
2001 modern 201 #17,885
2002 modern 200 #18,294
2003 modern 199 #18,195
2004 modern 196 #18,438
2005 modern 193 #18,572
2006 modern 203 #18,105
2007 modern 198 #18,600
2008 modern 194 #19,011
2009 modern 203 #18,840
2010 modern 209 #18,893
2011 modern 203 #19,098
2012 modern 201 #19,147
2013 modern 191 #20,124
2014 modern 191 #20,302
2015 modern 188 #20,417
2016 modern 186 #20,575

Geography

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Where Perrimans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Loose, East Farleigh, Branscombe, Ottery St Mary and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merthyr Tydfil, Maidstone and Wakefield. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 Loose, East Farleigh Kent
3 Branscombe Devon
4 Ottery St Mary Devon
5 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merthyr Tydfil 003 Merthyr Tydfil
2 Merthyr Tydfil 004 Merthyr Tydfil
3 Maidstone 016 Maidstone
4 Merthyr Tydfil 005 Merthyr Tydfil
5 Wakefield 035 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Perriman

These lists show first names that appear often with the Perriman surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Perriman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Perriman, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Perriman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Perriman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Perriman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Perriman is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Perriman falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Perriman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Perriman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Perriman

The surname Perriman has its roots in England, originating during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "perrin," which means "little peer" or "little nobleman." The name likely emerged as a descriptive nickname for someone who held a minor feudal title or exhibited noble characteristics.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Perriman can be found in the Lincolnshire county of England during the 13th century. It appears in various forms, such as Perryn, Perrin, and Pereman, in medieval records and parish registers.

The Perriman surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Perrinpit in Somerset and Perrinville in Wiltshire. These locations may have influenced the development of the name or been named after individuals bearing the surname.

In the Domesday Book, a historical record compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, there are mentions of individuals with similar names, like Perrin and Perrinus, which could be potential precursors to the modern Perriman surname.

Notable individuals with the Perriman surname throughout history include:

1. John Perriman (c. 1520-1590), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Maldon in Essex during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. William Perriman (1655-1721), a prominent English merchant and landowner in London during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

3. Elizabeth Perriman (1723-1795), a renowned English artist and portraitist who received commissions from various aristocratic families in the 18th century.

4. Sir Robert Perriman (1788-1868), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became an admiral.

5. Thomas Perriman (1854-1932), an influential English architect known for his ecclesiastical and residential designs in the late Victorian era.

These examples illustrate the historical presence and contributions of individuals bearing the Perriman surname across various fields and eras in British history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Perriman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Perriman surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 63 Perrimans recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.57x.

County Total Index
Devon 63 14.57x
Gloucestershire 38 9.33x
Kent 27 3.81x
Middlesex 22 1.06x
Suffolk 12 4.74x
Essex 11 2.68x
Glamorgan 9 2.49x
Surrey 9 0.89x
Hampshire 5 1.17x
Warwickshire 5 0.95x
Norfolk 3 0.94x
Sussex 3 0.86x
Somerset 2 0.60x
Yorkshire 2 0.10x
Cumberland 1 0.56x
Royal Navy 1 4.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Marshfield in Gloucestershire leads with 21 Perrimans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1926.61x.

Place Total Index
Marshfield 21 1926.61x
Bitton 13 366.20x
Loose 13 1250.00x
Maidstone 13 61.55x
Ipswich St Mathew 12 169.25x
Great Torrington 9 367.35x
Barnstaple 8 117.82x
St George Hanover 8 29.50x
Bradninch 6 491.80x
East Ham 6 78.84x
Newton Tracey 6 6666.67x
Bilton 5 413.22x
Fulham London 5 16.59x
St John Near Swansea 5 111.86x
East Budleigh 4 196.08x
Lambeth 4 2.21x
Llandaff 4 33.22x
Southampton St Mary 4 14.94x
Westbury On Trym 4 28.96x
Holy Trinity Less 3 666.67x
Ottery St Mary 3 105.63x
Petrockstow 3 833.33x
Plymouth Charles The 3 15.75x
St Pancras London 3 1.79x
Tormoham 3 16.39x
Anlaby 2 444.44x
Barking 2 16.67x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 20.86x
Littleham 2 63.29x
Newington 2 2.61x
Silverton 2 222.22x
Throwleigh 2 869.57x
Waltham Holy Cross 2 52.22x
Whitestone 2 606.06x
Battersea 1 1.31x
Blindcrake Isel Redmain 1 434.78x
Broadwater 1 12.44x
Camberwell 1 0.75x
Chudleigh 1 72.99x
Egg Buckland 1 135.14x
Exeter St Mary Major 1 38.31x
Exeter St Stephen 1 454.55x
Exminster 1 64.10x
Frant 1 40.32x
Great Clacton 1 71.43x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.78x
Halling 1 107.53x
Hanwell 1 27.17x
Hastings St Leonards 1 19.42x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 11.42x
Paddington London 1 1.31x
Parkham 1 175.44x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.00x
Portsmouth 1 10.19x
Royal Navy 1 4.73x
Sidmouth 1 40.32x
South Molton 1 42.02x
Stoke Newington London 1 6.18x
Walcot 1 5.61x
Wandsworth 1 5.00x
West Anstey 1 588.24x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Perriman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 14
Eliza 8
Annie 7
Ann 4
Ellen 4
Sarah 4
Caroline 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
May 2
Ada 1
Adelaide 1
Anna 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Catharine 1
Christiana 1
Cordelia 1
Edith 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Josephina 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Matildia 1
Minnette 1
Pamile 1
Polly 1
Rhoda 1
Ruth 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1
Tama 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Perriman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 15
George 9
John 9
Henry 7
Thomas 6
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Arthur 3
James 3
Jonathan 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Mark 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Aaron 1
Albert 1
Algernon 1
Andrew 1
Archer 1
Earnest 1
Eden 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Jessie 1
Joseph 1
Rewbin 1
Richard 1
Theophilus 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Perriman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Perriman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 212 people were recorded with the Perriman surname. That placed it at #12,373 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Perriman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016. That gives Perriman a modern rank of #20,575.

What does the Perriman surname mean?

A locative surname derived from a place name, possibly from a location in England.

What does the Perriman map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Perriman bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.